A-B Tech’s Mona Cornwell receives state honors

Mona Cornwell, director of Community Relations and Marketing at A-B Tech Community College, has been selected to receive the BB&T Staff Member of the Year Award for the North Carolina Community College System from the State Board of Community Colleges.

Cornwell manages all of the college’s communications and marketing efforts, including media relations, publications, web design, advertising, social media and promotion of College activities and events.

Cornwell began work at A-B Tech as a desktop publishing specialist in 1994 and held several positions before becoming director of Community Relations and Marketing in 2010. She and her staff have received numerous awards for their communications and advertising work, and she has served on a number of committees at the College and in the community.

“Mona is a team player and welcomes new ideas, especially when it involves improving communications for students as well as the College community,” said A-B Tech President Dr. Hank Dunn. “She is extremely astute and knowledgeable about the campus community and openly shares that knowledge. People trust her and seek her advice on a daily basis. She is considered a “go-to” person on A-B Tech’s campus.”

“I have worked closely with Mona during my 16 years as an A-B Tech trustee. I’ve always found her to be resourceful, ambitious, factually honest, and dedicated to our goal of student success. She is highly respected by the college faculty, staff, and student body as well as by her community media peers,” said Richard Hurley, A-B Tech Trustee Chair. “Mona’s personal and professional development initiatives over the years are a testimony to her dedication to keeping abreast of cutting-edge methods and technology.”

Cornwell was involved in the creation of Crisis Intervention Team training for local law enforcement on how to recognize and interact with citizens with mental illness. She also developed A-B Tech’s marketing and communication plan for its 50th anniversary.

With financial support from BB&T, the State Board established the Staff Member of the Year Award in 2001 to recognize excellent performance and commitment to the community college mission by the nonteaching staff of the 58 institutions of the North Carolina Community College System and the System Office.